Keto/IF and Cancer Recovery

My name is Yolanda Norman de Fernandez and I am 51 years old. I am an American but I have lived in Mexico in the Copper Canyon for over 22 years, and own several tourism companies here along with my husband. I discovered Dr. Berg on YouTube while researching the myriad ways to get healthy after surviving stage 4 - triple-negative breast cancer through a barrage of chemotherapy and radiation. This was of course a fatiguing task, as everyone has a different idea of what healthy actually means. TNBC is said to be significantly more aggressive than any other breast cancer. It is chemotherapy-sensitive, but its victims have a median overall survival of approximately 13 to 18 months with standard chemotherapy, according to cancer.org.

My Back-story: I grew up as most Americans did, eating everything in 'moderation', drinking a bit on weekends, enjoying Fritos with a ham sandwich for lunch with a glass of milk, and the typical diet of meat, mashed potatoes, and an overcooked vegetable for dinner. Mom was a great cook too so we had a dessert every night. I was mainly concerned about cancer coming back as I could see other people who had cancer go into remission, then a few years later the cancer was back again. It was painfully obvious to me that the reason for this was health-related, and I saw that %100 of the people who got cancer again, had not changed their diets at all. They went back to the exact same pattern of eating junk and then were shocked to see cancer return. I knew instinctively that this was the key.

When I first noticed the lump in my breast, I was not terribly unhealthy by normal standards, meaning I was within the weight limit for my age, height, and sex. I was at the top end of it, but still within the norm. So this meant honestly that I could lose a few pounds, but that I was not overweight. I disliked the idea of chemo. It seemed really wrong and twisted to inject horrible chemicals into my body to kill the cancer cells, as I knew logically it would also kill the healthy cells. All the doctors I spoke to were men and they were without exception arrogant, condescending, and downright offensive when I asked them serious questions about healthy alternatives. I did lots of research and was able to hold exhaustive conversations with them about all things cancer. They were not amused. In the end, none of them would monitor me as I went on a strict program to get rid of cancer using healthy methods, which meant controlling my diet and trying alternate approaches such as the Budwig protocol of cottage cheese with ground flaxseed, shakes filled with cumin, black pepper, turmeric, ginger, flaxseed oil, dandelion root, artemisinin, amygdaline, high amounts of vitamin c and b’s, naked sunbathing to absorb vitamin D, probiotics, chia seeds and more. They all shook their heads in dismay at my stupidity, and to bolster their egos added that I’d most likely be dead in 6 months if I did not start treatment immediately.

I left their offices feeling depressed that such egocentric people existed in the world that they would actually be happy if I did die, just so they could say ‘I told you so’. It was a dark day for me. I lost my faith in most of humanity that day. So I started my self-treatment armed only with common sense, lots of research on the internet including scientific papers, and anything I could find about alternative treatments. I could not afford the businesses that exist out there that you pay and they teach you what to do for a week or two and then send you home to continue it on your own. I was alone and had to just figure it out.

One of the published papers I found first was from a doctor named Michael Lam who purported that detoxification was the key to cancer control in his PDF called Beating Cancer with Natural Medicine. This made sense to me as I already knew that conventional doctors treated the symptom and not the cause. I know doctors go to school for a long time, but I also knew that they are not required to learn much at all about nutrition and how the body actually works with nutrients to solve almost any problem. I never went to doctors because of this. I preferred to let the body sort it out on its own, whatever was the problem, but I was never aware of the intricacies of how the body worked. It is a fascinating subject and I did enjoy the process, though it was overwhelming to me as there was just too much to remember. I did weeks of research, and then made up meticulous charts on Excel with all the protocols I would use and the exhausting daily schedule I had to keep to in order to fight cancer. I hoped I was taking the right amount of this and that as it was truly dizzying to keep up with. I studied hard to be sure I was not taking anything that would contraindicate any other thing or that would be dangerous if mixed. I kept up this schedule from 7 am to 7 pm daily, using what I considered to be the best 9 protocols to beat the cancer. I knew I’d have to stick to this program for a minimum of 2 years and wondered if I could pull it off, but because I was originally diagnosed with stage 2 cancer, I felt I was lucky that it was not entrenched too deeply yet, so I had a good fighting chance. My husband was as supportive as he could be, but he was a believer in orthodox medicine and thought I was taking too much of a chance with my life. He really tried to believe in my methods, but because he loves me so much he was slowly going mad with worry. The diet I set up for myself was working and I had the proof of it in the tests that showed there was no cancer in my body.

From the beginning, the only tests that ever really showed any sign of cancer were the CA 19-9 for pancreatic cancer. The doctors would not order this test, as they thought it unnecessary, so I ordered it myself as I’d learned about it from a cancer survivor on YouTube. I had every other test done though, and thankfully I had insurance as the tests the doctors ordered were seemingly endless; CA 27-29, TSH, GGT, CA125, CA 15-3, HCG, liver and abdomen scans, full-body bone scans with an obligatory injection of radioactive tracer and on and on. So every month I would order this CA 19-9 test to see how my levels were and every month they were within the right range to show that the cancer was not getting worse, nor even really showing up anywhere. I continued this self-treatment for 6 months. It was working and cancer, though still there, was not getting worse. It was at this time though that I tired of the endless preparations and schedule that I was following. I knew that if I had someone preparing and shopping for these protocols for me, I could continue it indefinitely, but just doing it on my own was no longer possible. I was depressed and ready to give up and die if it meant I might have a bit of peace and live at least a somewhat normal life before I did. My husband was frantic. He was beginning to show signs of depression himself and had black circles under his eyes from fatigue and worry. I just knew it was time to give it up. So I decided to stop the protocols and see what happened.

One day, I got up and did not do the protocols and had a normal breakfast and got on with my day. I did this for two weeks, then went and got the CA 19-9 test to see what was happening. My numbers went from normal (between 0-34) to 39. I waited a few more weeks and did another test. The numbers had jumped up into the hundreds. It was obvious I need to do the traditional therapy or go back to the alternative therapy or I was done for. My husband convinced me to see another doctor. This one was one of the few female cancer doctors in the state so I relented and went to her. She was much more understanding and soon I found myself doing chemotherapy. If only I had known about Keto and Dr. Berg at that point, I’m sure I would have been much better off since intermittent fasting helps detoxify the chemicals faster, but I did not. I went through the chemo and radiation over a 6 month period and it worked as the cancer growth stopped at least. It was now weak and scrawny, as I’d lost so much weight from throwing up for weeks at a time. My legs looked like toothpicks and I had to buy jeans in the children’s department at the store as no adult sizes would fit me. I went back to eating normally but started to look for some diet that would help me improve my health better.

I looked at every diet out there and stumbled across Dr. Berg by accident one day but was at once entranced. It was the first time in my life that I seemed to be hearing common sense from a doctor! I watched several random videos and loved that they were all concise, short, and most importantly that they were easy to understand. I subscribed to his channel and began binge-watching every single video he ever made over the next few weeks. It was like a light finally came on and I could see what I needed to do to regain my health. I knew that following his healthy Keto and IF would work because it just made sense. So I jumped into it with both feet and haven’t looked back. It’s been a little over 3 months now and I feel and look like a teenager again! It has now been 2 years since I finished the chemo and radiation. As mentioned above, my success rate was figured at 13 to 18 months. I’m beyond that now and though I wasn’t on Keto the majority of that time, I’m on it now and I know that I have the boundless energy and health I’m now experiencing to thank for Keto and IF used together. I will remain on Keto and IF for the rest of my life and we’ll have to wait and see how long that will be. My Keto and IF Beginnings: I just wanted to get started seeing results, so I didn’t want to take the time to gradually ease into it as is recommended. I did feel a bit weak and shaky the first week because of this, as my body switched over from using sugar to fat, but I expected it and managed it.

My weight, as mentioned above, was not excessive. I was at 150 pounds, and 5’5” so not overweight, but at the high end of the normal range. 3 months later, I weigh 128 and can fit in the clothes from my 20’s. Weight loss was never my goal, but it was a very happy side effect. My energy is always high. I am never hungry it seems. I do get occasional belly growls now and then, but as I’ve learned, that is not a sign of hunger. True hunger is when your blood sugar drops and you feel weak, shaky, and faint. That never happens to me now since my body no longer runs on glucose. My skin is super soft, and my hair is shiny. I started out eating at 12 noon and 6 pm, as was recommended, which gave me 18 hours of IF. I gradually moved it to 1 pm for lunch and 4 pm for dinner so now I fast 20 to 21 hours per day as a rule.

At first, it was hard to eat so much food, so close together, and I would have to stuff myself to get it all in at each meal. I use the Cronometer app recommended by Dr. Berg and LOVE it as it tracks everything that no other app does such as ALL vitamins, minerals, oxalate, caffeine, all proteins, and even lipids! It is a fantastic app and I highly recommend it. It is invaluable. I can’t eat the huge salads though. What works best for me is using my Nutribullet. I put 4 cups of greens such as kale, swiss chard, spinach, romaine lettuce, alfalfa sprouts, etc… along with 6 strawberries, kemp hearts, freshly ground flaxseed, freshly ground chia, spirulina, vitamin c crystals into the nutribullet with water, and a few cubes of ice and blend it smooth. It makes 3.5 cups of liquid and I drink that first at both my mealtimes. Then I have 3 to 6 ounces of protein on the side with a good variety of fat. The fat comes in different ways such as in a broth if I make a chicken soup, plus cubes of different kinds of cheese, olives, nuts, etc…. or via coconut oil if I’m cooking. I love eating 4 or 5 pieces of bacon with 4 eggs as a dish, or egg salad made with vinegar and mayonnaise. Or I also love to make creamy cheese sauces to drizzle over steamed cauliflower/broccoli. The sauce is based on heavy cream, some sort of cheese such as blue cheese with a chipotle sauce, red or white wine, and real butter. The flavor can be changed to suit almost anything of course so I eat that usually over veggies or meats a few times per week. Then if I get bored with the shakes, I mix it up with coleslaw or a big salad here and there and lots of other tasty veggies sautéed or steamed or raw. I love to eat celery with sugar-free peanut butter as a dessert and I do occasionally make a Keto dessert if my mind is telling me that it misses chocolate or whipped cream. My body doesn’t crave it anymore at all, but my mind remembers those things as comfort food and one does occasionally like to feel comforted so I make a few things. The chocolate or lemon mug cake cooked in the microwave are favorites, and I make a great, fluffy sugar-free cheesecake too once in a while. I also love the chocolate mousse recipe. It is super easy to find something to eat because I used the Cronometer app for the first month for anything that went in my mouth and basically it became second nature to me to know what meals were balanced, and how many vitamins and minerals I was getting. I don’t have to track anything anymore now. I just know what to eat instinctively.

Full disclosure: I do occasionally cheat and have a glass of wine with a meal if we go out to a restaurant, but that is only about once per month. I allow myself to enjoy homemade baked French fries once in a blue moon, and the occasional bread roll stuffed with cream cheese, which is a weakness of mine, when out in a restaurant. These things do not affect my weight, though I know that they do affect my body’s ability to continue cleaning up my liver, kidneys, and gallbladder, and they cause additional damage, of course, so I do not do this very often.

My goal is to be free of insulin resistance and to allow my liver the 3 years or so that is necessary for it to return to a shiny new liver so I’m fairly strict with myself, but since I’m new to this I also give myself a bit of leeway here and there so that I do not get frustrated and quit. I do feel a bit headachy after eating the bread or the wine, so I have to pay for those cheats, but I take ACV straight away and the cheats are always done along with the normal Keto meal including the copious amounts of vegetables so that the damage is minimal. The only exercise I really do is rebounding daily for about 10 minutes during my fasting window in the mornings. From studies I’ve read 10 minutes of rebounding is meant to equal 30 minutes of jogging. My bones do feel stronger now and I don’t run out of energy. I also live in the Copper Canyon in Mexico and the forest is all around me so I do hour-long walks several times per week in the mountains. This I love as it is also a meditation time for me.

My advice to anyone starting Keto is this:

1.) Start slowly, and follow Dr. Berg’s advice about how to ease into it, and push through the beginning hunger pangs to keep your set mealtimes. If you feel a bit dizzy or fatigued please know that this will pass and you’ll never feel that way again. It is just your body getting used to running in a more efficient way.

2.) Do NOT cheat the first 2 or 3 months so you get into the program correctly and allow your body to switch over naturally and easily. You can do it and you’ll be much happier with yourself once you are over the hump and your body no longer craves anything. It is so liberating!

3.) Watch all of Dr. Berg’s videos over and over again until you start to really understand how the body works and why it works better on Keto and IF. There are thousands of videos that are truly enlightening. Your full understanding will make all the difference in keeping you on the program, rather than just following along obediently. This is why Keto is not a diet, but a lifestyle change. Your body doesn’t stop working properly because you are getting older. It stops working properly, as you age because you’ve put nothing but poison into it since the day you were born. Stop putting the poison in and give it the nutrients it needs, and the time via IF to heal itself and undo the damage. You will be amazed at the changes. Thanks so much, Dr. Berg for showing me Keto and IF and I’ll send you an update on how I’m doing in a few years from now to help show the world that I am living proof that You Are What You Eat.

Yolanda